Switch-lock.



APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1908. M 91 0,583.

H. M. RICE. SWITGH LOCK.

Patented Jan.2'6, 1909.

, Svwemtoz UNITED ATS PATENT @hl-ET E.

HENRY M. RICE, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CLINT B. RICE, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SWITCH-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

Application filed June 16, 1908. Serial No. 438,782.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. Bron, citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements 1n switches and more particularly to a novel means for locking the switch in such a position that it cannot be tampered with by an unauthorized party.

The invention further contemplates a device of this character which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and in which the lock is not exposed so as to be readily broken off or so as to be subject to the accumulation of ice in cold weather.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereofand also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for eifecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lower portion of a switch stand constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stand, portions being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the lower end of the standard and the base, the members being shown as separated.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the base and 2 an upright standard which is pivotally mounted upon the base so as to revolve about a vertical axis. The lower portion 2 '0f the standard 2 has an angular or square cross section and terminates at its lower extremity in a pivot stud 3 which is loosely received within a corresponding circular opening in the base 1. The lower portion of the pivot stud is reduced at 3 and the shoulder formed at the upper end of this reduced portion aids in the support of the standard and constitutes a bearing upon which it may be turned. Projecting upwardly from the base 1 and surrounding the lower end of the standard is a flange 4, the said flange inclosing a square corners of the square portion of the standard as the latter is turned about its vertical axis. In the present instance angular projections 5 are provided at the corners of the flange 4, the said angular projections extending inwardly toward the standard.

Slidably mounted upon the exterior of the portion 2 of the standard is a sleeve 6 which when in a lowered position rests upon the flange 4. Projecting downwardly from this sleeve along the sides of the standard are the extensions 7 which are designed to enter the space between the flange i and the standard and to engage the straight sides of the flange to lock the standard against rotation. Each of these extensions 7 is received between a pair of the angular projections 5 and engages one of the sides of the flange 4 when the sleeve 6 is in a lowered position. However, when the sleeve is elevated the extensions 7 are withdrawn from the flange 4 and the standard 2 may then be turned freely about its vertical axis to throw the switch, the usual connection being provided between the standard and the switch mechanism.

For the purpose of moving the sleeve 6 upon the standard a lever 8 is utilized, the inner end of the lever being bifurcated and the arms of the bifurcation being pivotally connected to opposite sides of the standard. A pair of links 9 connect the sleeve 6 to an intermediate point upon the lever 8 so that when the lever is swung upwardly the extensions 7 are withdrawn from the flange 4 and the standard may be turned to throw the switch, while when the lever 8 is swung downwardly the extensions 7 are moved within the space between the flange 4 and the standard and serve to lock the standard against movement.

The invention further contemplates a novel locking mechanism for retaining the sleeve 6 in an operative position so that the switch can neither be tampered with nor thrown by an unauthorized party. The angular portion 2 of the standard has a hollow formation and is provided with a chamber 10, a locking bolt 11 being mounted within the base of the chamber. This looking bolt is designed to slide horizontally and terminates at one ,end in a downwardly beveled nose 12 which is designed to be projected beyond the standard so as to engage a recess 13 in the interior of the sleeve 6.

space which forms a clearance to receive the 1 The rear end of the locking bolt 11 is bifurcated and pivotally connected to the reduced lower end of an upright lever 14 which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point upon a pin 15. A spring 16 bears against the upper end of the lever 14 and normally tends to swing the same inwardly so as to hold the locking bolt in an operative position with the nose projected outwardly beyond the standard. In the present instance the upper end of this spring 16 is coiled around a pin 17 for the purpose of obtaining the required resiliency, the extremity of the spring being secured to the standard. The rear side of the lever 14 at the upper end thereof is cut away at 14 for engagement with the web of a key 18 which is designed to be removably inserted through a key-hole opening 19 in one side of the standard. As shown on the drawing the stem of the key has a hollow formation and when inserted in position through the keyhole opening receives a stud 20 projecting within the chamber 10. It will thus be obvious that when it is desired to throw the switch the key 18 is inserted in position and turned so as to cause the web thereof to engage the cut away portion 14 of the lever 14 and swing the upper end thereof outwardly against the action of the spring 16 so as to withdraw the locking bolt 11 into an inoperative position. The sleeve 6 can then be moved upwardly upon the standard 2 through the medium of the lever 8 and the extensions 7 are thereby withdrawn from engagement with the flange 1. After turning the standard which has thus been released and throwing the switch the sleeve 6 is again moved downwardly and the exten sions 7 again caused to enter the space between the flange 4 and the standard so as to lock the latter against rotary movement. As soon as the sleeve has been moved downwardly into 0 erative position the spring 16 forces the loclhng bolt 11 outward and the nose 12 thereof engages the recess 13 in the sleeve so as to lock the latter against upward movement. I

, Attention is directedto the fact that in the present construction the locking mechanism is entirely housed within the standard 2 and is not exposed so as to be subject to the accumulation of snow and ice in winter or so as to be readily broken by a person tampering with the switch.

The reduced portion 3 of the pivot stud at the lower end of the standard is provided with a washer 21 which prevents upward movement of the standard. Projecting laterally from the lower end of this reduced portion of the pivot stud is a pin 22 which is oosely connected to a rod 23 extending to the switchpoint and serving in the usual manner to produce an operative connection therewith. It will thus be obvious that by turning the standard the switch point may be moved either into an open or a closed position as desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, a standard pivot ally mounted upon the base and having an operative connection with the switch, a flange projecting from the base and inclosing an angular space, projections in the corners of the angular space, and a sleeve slidably mounted 'upon the standard and provided with extensions designed to enter the angii= lar space inclosed by the flange and to be received between the projections to lock the standard against movement. h

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, a standard pivotally mounted upon the base and having an operative connection with the switch, the said standard being formed with a chamber, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the standard and provided with means for engaging the base to lock the standard against movement, a locking bolt mounted within the chamber of the standard and adapted to engage the sleeve to hold the same in an operative posigoln, and means for controlling the locking 3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, an upright stand= ard mounted upon the base to turn about a vertical aXis, the said standard being formed with a chamber, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the exterior of the standard and provided with means for engaging the base to lock the standard against movement, a horizontal locking bolt slidably mounted within the chamber of the standard and adapted to be moved outwardly into engagement with the sleeve to hold the same in an operative position, and an upright lever pivoted within the chamber and engaging the locking bolt for moving the same.

' 4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, a standard pivotally mounted upon the base to turn about a vertical axis, the said standard having an operative connection with the switch and being formed with a chamber, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the exterior of the standard and provided with means for engaging the base to lock the standard against movement, a lever pivoted upon the standard, a link connecting the sleeve to the lever, a locking bolt mounted within the chamber of the standard and adapted to engage the sleeve to hold it in operative position, and a key operated means within the chamber for controlling the looking bolt.

5. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of a base, a standard pivotally mounted upon the base and having an operative connection with the switch, the said standard being provided with a chain'- oer, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the standard and designed to engage the base to lock the standard against movement, a looking bolt mounted Within the chamber of the standard for engaging the sleeve to hold the latter in an operative position, a lever pivotally mounted Within the chamber and having an operative connection with the locking bolt, and a key designed to engage the lever for controlling the locking bolt.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY M. RICE. Witnesses:

J. L. HUMPHRYS, C. B. RICE. 

